Kurt Vile: So Outta Reach

Singer/songwriter Kurt Vile has a way with hushed tunes. Expertly picking his acoustic guitar, the guy is one of the best we've got when it comes to artful solemnity. But there is such a thing as too mellow. On the cover of his excellent new So Outta Reach EP, there's Vile, passed out on a white couch-- cupcake wrappers on his chest, possible drool seeping out of the corner of his mouth, people doing goofy poses next to him-- over and over again. It's a veritable mosaic of unconsciousness. Was he really out of it? Was it a set-up? And, most important, is Kurt Vile, like, OK? He was nice (and conscious) enough to fill us in on the details when we gave him a call recently.

Pitchfork: Where were these photos taken?

Kurt Vile: I went to a party with my wife, and her friend Greg Chow-- he's the Asian guy giving the devil horns-- took the pictures. I drank too much tequila early on in the party, and he took all these photos and posted them online. Truthfully, I was embarrassed by them at first because I'm self-conscious, but my manager found them and was like, "That's your cover." I just laughed. And then he sent it to Matador, and they loved it.

At that time, I was used to hanging out late after playing a gig-- you mix adrenaline with alcohol and you can stay up all night. And then, all of a sudden, I'd go to a more civil party just to socialize, and I didn't know what to do with myself. So I drank a shot of tequila. And then I drank another one. I probably had four or five shots. I was like, "Tequila! It wakes you right up!" But no.

I've been known to just pass out instantaneously, like, anywhere. I've always been a deep sleeper; because I come from such a large family-- there are 10 kids-- I could sleep through anything. Even with my last day job, I'd sleep in later and later and start coming in an hour-and-a-half late. I got fired twice before I really got fired.

"I've been known to just pass out instantaneously, like, anywhere."

Pitchfork: Was your wife pissed that you fell asleep at this party?

KV: A little bit, but she's used to it. I've done it before. It's just the way I am. And then when I get up, it's like, "Sorry, the guacamole was great, see ya."

People do get mad at me for falling asleep sometimes, and it's the most frustrating thing. I can't help it. What am I gonna do? Would you rather me get some household items and make crystal meth?

Pitchfork: Passing out at a random party can be dangerous.

KV: Oh, totally. I was lucky I was with that crew because they're not cruel. On the road, there could be strange people around at any given time-- somebody might do something way worse to you. But I've never gotten in too much trouble with alcohol. I've never had a drinking problem, really.

"I was like, 'Tequila! It wakes you right up!' But no."

Pitchfork: Are you still embarrassed by this cover?

KV: I really like it now. It's funny and unexpected. It sort of reminds me of a Fall or Pavement kind of cover. And I'm a funny person, too, not just serious all the time.

Pitchfork: Are there any connections with the cover and the music on the EP?

KV: Well, I guess you could look at it analytically and make a reason, like, "Kurt Vile is outta reach right now." [laughs] But in reality, the EP was done before we found the cover.